Railroad-rail joint.



No. 675,545. Patented lune 4, |901.

J. L. WOOD.

RAILROAD RAIL JOINT.

(Application led Dec. 3, 1900,)

'niTTia STnTns PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES LEDGEE TWOOD, OF BUFFALO, NEI/V YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOSEPH F. BLAUVELT, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

RAILEOAHRAIL JOINT.

SEEGIFIGATKQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,645, dated June 4,1901.

Application filed December S, 1900. Serial No. 38,467. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that JAMES Lnnenn WOOD, of Buffalo, in the county of Erieand State of New York, have invented certain new and 5usefulImprovement-s in Railroad-Rail Joints; and I hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification.

As already stated, my invention relates to railroad-rails; and itsobject is not only to provide a joint that will obviate the disagreeableclatter incident to the inequalities of the ordinary joint when theWheels of the car are passing from one rail to another, but also tofurnish means for connecting the rails so that they will be rigidly andsecurely united at their ends.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction, as Wellas in the combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, whichvvill be particularly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of therailroad-joint complete. Fig. 2 is a similar View With the partsdisassembled. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the connectingblocl, and Fig.4 a longitudinal section through the same.

formed with a central tongue b, through which is an elongated slot d.The tongue may be of any desired length, but must be flush with the topand base of the rail, with its outer end equidistant from the shouldersb throughout its depth.

B represents a connecting-block provided at each end With a verticalgroove c, into which the tongues of the contiguous rails fit snugly. 4oThe tread and base of this block B must be flush With the tops andbottoms of the rails between which it is located, and its sides shouldspread from the under side of the tread toward the base, so that thebottom of the block Will be of the same Width as the base of the rail.In other Words, it is not Webbed as the rail is, thus affording morestrength and rigidity at the joint. The central partition d of the blockB is provided with a suitable 5o hole for a copper coil-spring c to restin. (See Fig. 4.) Each end of this spring should con- A represents therail, each end of which is tact with the ends of the adjacent rail whenproperly positioned. The object of the spring is to more thoroughlyadapt my improved railjoint to cars propelled by electricity. However, Imake no claim at present for this spring, reserving the right to do soin another application.

g g are bolts extending from side to side of the block B through slots aa in tongue O represents a channeled base-plate upon which the ends ofthe rails and connecting block are seated. The channel in this base-Vplate should be solnewhat deeper than the lower edge of the rail isthick, so that its sides will embrace the lower portion of block I3.Thus when the spikes g gi are driven in the cross-ties the several partswill be rigidly united and held securely in place.

I am fully aware of Patent No. 410,149 and claim nothing therein shownor described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a railroad-rail terminating at each end in atongue flush With both the tread and base of the rail, of aconnecting-bloek of the same depth as the rail and formed with groovesto receive the tongues of the contiguous rails, all substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a 1'ailroad1ail having a tongue at each endthereof formed iiush with both the tread and base of the rail and withan elongated hole through each tongue, of a connecting-block of thesaine depth as the rail having grooves adapted to receive the tongues ofthe rails, and bolt-holes registering with those in the tongues, allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a railroadrail having a tongue at each endthereof flush with both the tread and base of the rail, and aconnectingblock of the same depth as the rail, formed With grooves toreceive the tongues of the contiguous rails; of a channeled base-plateadapted to seat and retain in place both the rails and block, With theassistance of spikes, all substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination With a railroad-rail having a tongue at each endthereof formed IOO flush with both the tread and base of the rail, andwith an elongated. hole through each tongue, of a connecting-block ofthe sanne depth as the rail grovided at each end with a groove adaptedto receive the tongue of the adjoining rail, the connecting-block beingformed with holes registering with the holes in the tongues, andsuitable bolts adapted to pass through the holes in the block and 1otongues; and a channeled base-plate adapted to seat and retain in placeboth the rails and block, with the assistance of spikes, allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I ax my signature inpresence of 15 two Witnesses.

JAMES LEDGER WOOD In presence of- JAMES R. INIANSEIELD, T. H. ALEXANDER

